India’s rejection of Rafale in favor of Su-30 might be justified - experts

Jan 13, 2015

Su-30MKI and Rafale fighter. Collage by RIR

Experts believe that India’s rejection of the French Rafale fighter in favor of the Russian Su-30MKI is advantageous for India in every way.

It is
possible that India’s
acquisition of the Su-30MKI fighter plane instead of the French Rafale is
advantageous to the country’s air force in terms of cost, tactical and
technical characteristics of the plane and a series of other reasons, says the
official representative of the Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade (CAWAT).

"India’s
rejection of the French Rafale fighter in favor of the Russian
Su-30MKI is advantageous for India in every way: according to
its tactical and technical specifications the Russian plane is significantly
superior to the French equivalent. Furthermore, for India’s
air force the pricing is extremely important, and the increase of the initial
price to almost double what was in the contract just doesn’t reflect the
existing economic reality ", said a CAWAT
representative.

He
highlighted that India already had the conditions necessary for servicing the
Su-30MKI and the purchase of the new batch of Russian fighters would only
strengthen Russian-Indian military and technical cooperation: "The
logistical supply chain for maintaining the Su-30MKI has already been
established for the aircraft previously supplied by Russia
and assembled in India. Furthermore, this aircraft is a
4++ generation fighter — it will ensure that the Indian
air force is ready to accept the fifth generation fighters (FGFA)".

According
to the CAWAT representative, another reason for India’s
rejection of the Rafale might be the French freeze on the delivery of the
Mistral helicopter carrier to Russia.

"The
delay and possible refusal of France to deliver the Mistral to Russia creates
the doubt that this country is a reliable partner for military and technical
cooperation. It cannot be excluded that Paris for
one political reason or another will not halt the execution of the contract on
the Rafale delivery. Therefore the possible change of focus by India to
the Su-30MKI will be a better choice for the country’s air force,” he
highlighted.